Minnesota Timberwolves PoBO Tim Connelly is truly making waves in the basketball world. His strategic executive prowess and front office leadership have earned him a reputation as somewhat of an NBA genius.
Prior to being hired by the Wolves, Connelly was the Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations from 2017 to 2022, and vice PoBO for five years before that.
Tim Connelly shaped the Denver Nuggets into NBA champions
He was there when they drafted Nikola Jokic and he was running the show for Denver when they drafted Jamal Murray. He even hired Mike Malone. Without a doubt, the Timberwolves PoBO played a big role in shaping the Denver into the NBA champions they are today.
Upon arrival at Mayo Clinic Square, Tim Connelly didn’t hesitate to transform Minnesota into serious contenders, either. His trades for Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were often criticized throughout the NBA, especially when year one didn’t go as smoothly as planned, but everything he has touched now looks like it has gone gold.
But now, in an intriguing twist of fate, Connelly finds himself in a unique situation where the team he built and the team he built to beat that one are locking horns in the Western Conference semifinals. And it’s possible Tim finds himself building up a 3rd roster next season.
As it stands, Tim Connelly’s contract includes an opt-out clause at the end of this season. Whether he’ll exercise it remains uncertain, but there are already suitors lining up. Connelly has solidified his reputation as one of the top executives in basketball, making him a coveted asset in the eyes of many franchises.
Minnesota Timberwolves eyeing another Nuggets executive, Calvin Booth
But according to longtime local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press), the Timberwolves have another Denver Nuggets front office exec in their crosshairs. Should Connelly jump ship, one of their top targets to replace him would be current Nuggets general manager, Calvin Booth, who played for the Wolves back in 2008-2009, as one of the final stops during his 10-year NBA career.
If Timberwolves President Tim Connelly exercises his contract out-clause after the season, word in basketball circles is that his successor could be ex-Timberwolf Calvin Booth, who is general manager of the Nuggets.
Charley Walters – Pioneer Press
Not only is Calvin Booth a former player for the Timberwolves, he’s also a previous director of player personnel in Minnesota, a position he fought up the Timberwolves front office ladder for from 2013-2017, before he was hired by the Nuggets as their assistant general manager, under Tim Connelly.
After Connelly’s departure for Minnesota, Booth stepped up to fill his shoes, and helped win a championship in his second year. Prior to that, Booth served as the director of player personnel for the Timberwolves from 2014 to 2017. His journey continued as he made a move to Denver in August 2017, where he took on the role of assistant GM.
It’s hard to imagine anyone stepping into Tim Connelly’s shoes and matching his impact, but Calvin Booth could definitely be a strong contender for the role. With his wealth of experience, he seems like a promising choice to fill the position.
More must-reads: